Title:Metformin: A Promising Antidiabetic Medication for Cancer Treatment
Volume: 24
Issue: 1
Author(s): Wei Mu*, Yunyun Jiang, Guoqiang Liang, Yue Feng and Falin Qu
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy, Precision Medicine Center, 904th Hospital of PLA, 214044 Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China
Keywords:
Metformin, anticancer, AMPK complex, ROS, Sps, ICIs.
Abstract: Metformin is a widely used drug in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metformin inhibits
hepatic gluconeogenesis and increases glucose utilization in peripheral tissues. In recent
years, several studies have shown that metformin is a potential therapeutic agent against cancer,
alone or combined with other anticancer treatments. Metformin mainly activates the AMPK complex
and regulates intracellular energy status, inhibiting the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex
I and reducing the production of reactive oxygen species. Other anticancer targets of metformin
are specific transcription factors inhibiting cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis and reducing
drug resistance. In addition, metformin modulates tumor cells' response to anticancer treatments,
favoring the activity of T cells. In diabetic patients, metformin reduces the occurrence of cancer and
improves the prognosis and efficacy of anticancer treatments. In this review, we provided a comprehensive
perspective of metformin as an anticancer drug.